New Delhi: In yet another interesting development in the controversy over Philip Kotler Award to Prime Minister Modi, the management Guru tried to clear the air, saying, he was involved in a ‘misunderstanding’ with the Indian media. Congratulating Modi for being the first ever to win the award, Kotler said he was selected for his ‘leadership and selfless service towards India’.

“I congratulate PM Narendra Modi for being conferred the first ever Philip Kotler Presidential Award. He has been selected for his outstanding leadership and selfless service towards India, combined with his tireless energy," the professor of marketing at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management said in a statement on Twitter.

India witnessed ‘extraordinary economic, social and technological advances’ under Modi’s leadership, Kotler said. He said Modi winning the award raised the bar for future recipients of the award.

“Narendra Modi's efforts have resulted in extraordinary economic, social and technological advances in India. His winning the first award raises the bar for future recipients,” Kotler said in a statement on Twitter.

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In a statement on his website, Kotler explained: the concept underlying the award is to honour a major public leader who has “given new life to democracy and economic growth in that nation”.

Among other reasons for which Modi was chosen for the award, Kotler lists: social justice, belief that a good society will build a healthy business climate, encouraging businesses to practice the triple bottom line, namely to balance profits, people, and the planet in their deliberations, someone who sincerely and wholeheartedly works for the Common Good.

Kotler’s comments come a day after the Opposition questioned the award given to PM Modi.

"I want to congratulate our PM on winning the world famous 'Kotler Presidential Award'!" Gandhi said on Twitter. "In fact, it's so famous it has no jury, has never been given out before & is backed by an unheard of Aligarh company," Congress national president Rahul Gandhi in a statement on Twitter said.

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